'Lorax' is repeat winner at weekend box office

US actor Danny DeVito gestures during the photocall of directors Chris Renaud and Kyle Balda movie &quot;Dr. Seuss The Lorax&quot; in Madrid on March 8, 2012. AFP PHOTO

"Dr. Seuss' The Lorax" topped the North American box office for a second straight week, earning $38.8 million over the weekend, industry data showed Monday.

The animated movie about the hazards of industrialized society, featuring the voices of Danny DeVito, Zac Efron and Taylor Swift, set a record last week for the highest non-sequel animated film debut with $70.2 million.

Second place went to a critically-panned Disney newcomer "John Carter," based on books by "Tarzan" author Edgar Rice Burroughs. The film, about an ex-Civil War soldier magically transported to Mars, earned S30.2 million.

"Project X," a coarse comedy about a high school party that gets out of control, came in third place $11.1 million, according to the Exhibitor Relations film tracking company.

"Act of Valor," a war film starring active duty US Navy SEALs, was in fourth place with $7 million in receipts.

Horror film "Silent House" about a young woman trapped inside a eerie mansion was fifth with $6.7 million.

Sixth place went to the debut of an Eddie Murphy comedy, "A Thousand Words," which earned $6.2 million.